Donald Trump says the big issue in his potential run for governor is getting the GOP united behind him. The other issue might be getting people to believe he’s not just messing with them… again.
Trump says he’s seriously pondering trying to knock Gov. Cuomo from the ring, but Tuesday morning, WABC radio’s Geraldo Rivera interviewed him like the mogul who cried candidate.
“I’m not sure what you’re saying, Donald. I’m not sure: Are you really, really considering this — or are you just teasing people again?” Rivera asked during their 12-minute chat.
“I
am
considering it,” insisted Trump — who said he’s prepared to spend between $30 and $50 million of his own cash if he jumps in.
Of course, last year, the real-estate kingpin and TV star said he’d spend “whatever it took” to win the White House… and that was after jumping in and out of the 2012 scene more times than a double-dutch champ.
Think back:
In 1988, Trump said he was looking at a presidential campaign. He didn’t run. In ’99, more talk of a White House bid. Didn’t run in 2000. Repeat in 2004 and 2008 (and don’t forget to sandwich in that 2006 non-run for governor).
To be fair, the possibility of a 2012 campaign did have one concrete outcome: The exploratory process led Trump to
bail out of driving the pace car at the Indy 500
.
But what about opening his books this year? Hey, no problem! Trump told Rivera he’s not worried about any financial disclosures he’d have to make as a gubernatorial candidate — having done so while pondering that last never-got-there presidential run.
“I have nothing to hide,” he said.
Trump — to Rivera’s disbelief — even said he’d have no issue moving to the state capital.
“You would live in Albany? I can’t see it, somehow,” Rivera said.
“I like Albany!” Trump protested. “I’ve been to Albany many times — “
“Being in Albany and living in Albany is different.”
“I’ve had a lot of business dealings in Albany over the years…” Trump countered. “The pay cut is a different story, but I can handle that very nicely.”
As for Cuomo, Trump was —
shocker
! — a little less sunny-side up: “I think you have a very bad soundbite when you’re the sitting governor and your taxes are the highest in the land,” he said.
So Donald Trump 2014? Really?
Trump continued to set the odds of a run — contingent on totally unified support from state GOP leaders, of course — at 50-50.
Place your bets… carefully.
IMAGE: DAVID BECKER/GETTY
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